June 05, 2013 11:49 PM CDTJune 05, 2013 11:49 PM CDTHeika: Methodical Jim Nill would like to have new Stars coach in place before draft

Heika: Methodical Jim Nill would like to have new Stars coach in place before draft

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Carlos Osorio/AP

Jeff Blashill (left): The head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins was hired last year by Jim Nill to replace Curt Fraser as the leader of Detroit's AHL affiliate. The former collegiate goaltender took the Griffins to a 42-26-8 record this season and has them in the AHL Finals against Syracuse.

New Stars general manager Jim Nill has all of the
intricacies down when it comes to searching for a coach. Well, except for
setting a timeline.

Tuesday when the Stars unveiled their new uniforms, Nill told the audience he
was “getting close” to naming a new coach. In today’s Twitter world, that means
“by the end of the week, if not the end of the evening.” But Nill sees things a
little differently than fans do.

“It’s a process. I’d like to have it done by the draft,” he said of the June
30 NHL entry draft in Newark, N.J. “That’s the perfect time to have it. I’m
hoping in the next couple of weeks that I can really get it narrowed down and
make the final decision.”

And while that should calm the fire of the fans for a couple of weeks, that
simple statement could give insight into Nill’s process. Since letting go of
Glen Gulutzan in May, the new Stars GM has said he will take his time and be
patient finding a replacement — and he has held to that strategy. But by at
least hinting he would like to have a coach in place by the draft, Nill could be
eliminating certain candidates.

Phoenix coach Dave Tippett probably won’t be able to talk to other teams
until July 1. The former Stars coach has a contract that expires on June 30, and
the Coyotes would love to get him re-signed. However, Tippett is waiting to see
if the team finds a new owner before he commits to them. That means he could
make himself available if a team can wait until July 1.

“It’s a bit like a player in the last year of his contract,” Tippett told the
Arizona Republic. “There’s times you’d probably like to
sign, but you’re not sure if you’re going to sign. That’s kind of where it is
right now.”

So, if Nill is serious about getting this done before the draft, does that
mean Tippett isn’t in the mix? In fact, does that mean Nill won’t wait to see if
teams like San Jose (Todd McLellan) or Pittsburgh (Dan Bylsma) make their
coaches available? After all, Vancouver let go of a very good coach in Alain
Vigneault after he won six division championships in seven years with the
Canucks.

Nill said all of his options are open, but it is an interesting race. He said
he will not reveal who he is interviewing, but an NHL source said he has already
talked to former Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff and Texas Stars coach Willie
Desjardins, and that he plans to talk to Vigneault and Toronto Marlies coach
Dallas Eakins this week.

Asked if he is worried about the fact the Canucks and Rangers also have
opening for a coach and could be talking to some of the same candidates, Nill
said no.

“There’s only so many teams there,” he said. “Now, I could wake up and two
guys get signed, but that’s the business. I’m keeping in touch with the people
we’re talking to and they’ve got a lot of interest in coming here also. We’re
just going to stick with it, and good things will happen.”

Insiders also say Nill plays a pretty good hand of poker. He not only knows
what cards he has, but also does a great job of know what other teams have.

“You get a heartbeat for it,” he said. “People are talking. Everybody’s on
top of things. We’re listening to everything. If somebody’s going to sign, I
know they’re going to call me and go from there. We’ve got a pretty good feel
for everything.”

So, no, you probably aren’t going to hear about a coach hiring any time soon.
Nill, who is traveling to the candidates for first interviews, said he will
bring coaches to Texas when he offers second interviews. That means there is
time. Still, he is very efficient in his work, and June 30 is more than three
weeks away.

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